Screwdriver



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IRA W'ATT J AliIES, 0F WOODLAND PARK,

Application filed April 15,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, IRA WATT learns, acitizen of the United States, residing at Woodland Park, in the countyof Teller and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Screwdrivers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved screw driverequip e with a screw head clamping or clutching device facilitating theplacing and subsequent driving of the screw in an inconvenientlyaccessible place.

Another object is the provision of an ad justing means for the clampingdevices located conveniently near the main handle of the screw driverand actuated by the fingers grasping the handle.

With these and other objects in view as will appear as the descriptionproceeds, the invention comprises the novel features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts as will be more fullydescribed hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claimsappended hereto.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary side elevation of the improved screwdriver,

F ig. 2 represents an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the pointedterminal of the blade.

Fig. 3 represents an enlarged sectional view in the plane of the line3-3 of F ig. 1.

Fig. 4 represents a similar sectional view illustrating the clampingterminals of the clamping members in retractedor inoperative position,

Fig. 5 represents a fragmentary perspective view of the screw engagingterminal of the blade, the sleeve and clamping members being detached.

F ig. 6 represents a fragmentary perspective view of the adjustingsleeve,

Fig. 7 represents a perspective view of one of the clamping membersdetached,

Fig. 8 represents a fragmentary side elevation of a modified type ofscrew driver, and

Fig. 9 represents a further modification of the screw driver. a

Fig. 10 represents a still further modification of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference numeralsdesignate corresponding parts throughout the mediate the cam surfaces 25coronano.

SCREWDRIVER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV. 16, 1920.

1919. Serial No. 290,160.

" several'views thenumeral 10 indicates the preferred type of handlecarrying a cylindrical shank 11 having its outer terminal flattened topresent a screw engaging blade or edge 12. Adjacent the edge 12 theblade or tapered terminal of the shank is provided with paralleltransverse apertures 13 receiving the offset portions 1 1 of a pair ofcompanion clamping members 15 each of which carries an elongated shank16 directed angularly at its inner terminal as indicated at 17 andhaving its opposite terminal flattened as indicated at 18 to lie flushwith and present a continuation of the surface and edge of the blade ofthe shank. In their normal inoperative positions the screw head engagingterminals of the clamping members 15 liee'ntirely within parallel seatsor grooves 19 extending inwardly from the edge 12 to and communicatingwith the apertures 13 receiving ing members, and the shanks thereof arethe respective clampprovided with crimps 15 which lie flat against theblade and maintain the clamping elements in proper position. 7 I

- The elongatedshanks 16 ofthe clamping members extend along theoppositely inclined flat surfaces 20 of the shank and the extremeangular terminals 17 thereof are engaged in apertures 21 formed with thestruck out portions 22 of an adjusting sleeve 23 rotataloly mounted uponthe shank l1 and movable longitudinally thereon.

The shank of the screw driver at the inner terminals of the flatsurfaces 20 is formed with opposed shoulders 24 constituting an abutmentfor the terminal of the sleeve 23 and coacting with the diametricallyopposed cam surfaces 25 thereof to maintain the sleeve in such positionas to retain the clamping members in operative positions, with theassistance of the expansion spring 26 confined between the opposite terminal of the sleeve and the adjacent handle portion 10. The straightedges 27 interare engaged with the shoulders 2a when the sleeve is movedto a position permitting the screw bers whereby as the clamping membersare p turned upon the offset portions 14:, incident to a rotary movementof the sleeve 23 the screw engaging terminals 18 thereon slide upon theconcave surfaces of the grooves 19 and are projected beyond the surfaceof the edge 12 thereby firmly clamping the walls of the groove 28 in thescrew 29 and permitting the same to be conveniently placed in anydesired position and subsequently driven. Subsequent to placing andstarting the screw the clamping members are returned to theirinoperative position in the grooves 19 by a reverse rotational movementof the sleeve 23 and, as will be clearly evident, the clamping membersare preferably constructed of spring material so as to afford suchresiliency as is necessary in moving the screw engaging terminals 18thereof laterally with relation to the blade of the screw driver. r

In the modification ofthe invention illustrated in Fig. 8 the blade 12is provided with but one opening receiving a single clamping element15",. the elongated shank 17 of which is connected with the adjacentterminal of the adjusting sleeve 23 EX- cept for the elimination of oneof'the clamp ing members the type of the invention illustrated in Fig. 8is similar to that disclosed U-shaped crimp which lies flat against oneof the tapered faces of the blade 12 and is designed to prevent theclamping member fromtwisting or turning out of operative position.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in Fig 9 the clampingmember 7 82 having theoffset medial portion 83 is pivotallysupported inasupplementary plate 84 riveted or'otherwise secured to the screw drivershank 35 as indicated at 36 and the inner terminal of the clampingmember is di rected angularly and engaged in the adjacent terminal of anadjusting sleeve 37 identical in construction to the sleeve 23 in thetype of the invention'illustrated'in Fig. 1. The

screw head engaging terminal of the clamp ing member 32 is normallyseated within a groove 38'formed 1n the beveled surface of the shank 35and as the sleeve 37 is turned I .upon the-shank, the terminal of theclamping member is tilted out of the groove and e projected against theinner surface of the screw head slots.

In the type of the invention disclosed in Fig. 1, as well as themodifications, the spring 26 permits the sleeve 23 to be moved towardthe handle 10 thereby permitting withdrawal of the shanks of theclamping members from the apertures in the sleeve and by a subsequentlateral and rotary movement of each shank it may be removed from understruck out portion 22 and removed bodily from the screw driver. In thistwo'supplementary plates 34 and a corresponding number of clampingmembers may be utilized if preferred, at the option of the user.

' WVhat I claim is r 1. A screw driver including a shank provided with abeveled screw engaging terminal having a groove and aperture therein,

a screw head clamping member having an offset portion pivotally securedin the aper ture and partially engaged in said groove, and meansengaging the opposite terminal of the clamping member for swinging thelatter out of the groove.

. 2. A screw driver including a shank provided with a beveled screwengaging terminal provided with an aperture and a groove, a screw headclamping member having an offset portion pivotally mounted in theaperture and having one terminal engaged in said groove, means rotatablysupported upon the shank engaging the opposite terminal of the clampingmember to disengage "the latter from the groove. in Figs. 1 to 7. Theclampingmember 15? is preferably provided with a substantially V.

3. A screw driver including a shank provided with a blade, a clampingmember comprising a shank providedw th an offset portion pivotallymounting said member,"

its

comprising a shank having an angular por- .tion forming a pivot andacrimp lying in contact with one of the side faces of the y blade andpreventing the clamping member from turning on its longitudinal axis,and means rotatably mounted upon the shank and connected with theclamping member for swinging the latter to opera'- tive position. 7 I

5. A screw driver including-a bladeprovided with a seat inthe side facethereof, said seat having inclined side walls, a clamp ing member havingone terminal normally disposed in said seat and presenting a continuation of the side face of the blade, and means connected with theopposite terminal of the clamping member to unseat the first mentionedterminal and swing the latter into prominent clamping position upon theside face of the blade whereby to clamp a screw head; W I r In testimonywhereof I afiix my signae turehereto. V

. IRA WATT JAMES.

